Under The Same Moon

episode 4

UNDER THE SAME MOON

Episode 4 — The Almost Kiss 🌙🕯️

There were exactly three things Kiara hated that week.

One — Mumbai traffic.

Two — college assignments.

And three…

The fact that Aarav Malhotra suddenly existed everywhere.

Every corridor.

Every café.

Every late-night thought.

And worst of all?

He acted completely normal about it.

Meanwhile, Kiara was internally fighting for her life every time he looked at her for more than five seconds.

“This is psychological torture,” she muttered dramatically while walking through campus.

Sana nearly laughed.

“You’re in love.”

“I’m in danger.”

“Same thing.”

Kiara sighed deeply.

Unfortunately, Aarav’s midnight calls had become a habit now.

Some nights they argued.

Some nights they shared random stories.

And some nights…

They simply stayed silent on call while rain played softly in the background.

Neither of them admitted how comforting it felt.

But both knew.

—

That evening, the college festival preparations turned the entire campus chaotic.

Lights hung across the buildings while music echoed from every direction.

Students rushed around carrying decorations, costumes, instruments, and emotional breakdowns.

Kiara sat cross-legged on the auditorium stage helping Sana paint banners.

“I swear if this glitter touches me again—”

“It already touched your face,” Sana interrupted.

“What?! WHERE?”

Before Sana could answer, footsteps approached nearby.

Kiara looked up automatically.

And instantly regretted it.

Aarav.

Black cargo pants.

Dark grey shirt with rolled sleeves.

Silver rings on his fingers.

Looking unfairly attractive under warm festival lights.

Kiara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Why do you always appear like a Netflix entry scene?”

Aarav sat beside her casually.

“Why do you always look personally offended by my existence?”

“Because your existence is irritating.”

“Mhm.”

Sana looked between them like she was watching live entertainment.

“I’m leaving before s****l tension kills me,” she announced dramatically.

Kiara almost choked.

“SANA!”

But her roommate had already disappeared laughing.

Traitor.

Now it was just her and Aarav sitting alone onstage while students moved around below them.

Dangerous situation.

Very dangerous.

Kiara focused aggressively on painting.

“You’re avoiding eye contact,” Aarav said calmly.

“I’m painting.”

“You missed the banner completely.”

Kiara looked down.

Blue paint covered her own hand.

“…I hate you.”

“That’s not what your face says.”

She glared at him instantly.

Aarav smirked faintly.

God.

That smirk deserved jail time.

Before Kiara could recover, the auditorium lights suddenly flickered.

Then everything went dark.

Loud groans echoed across the hall.

“Seriously?!” someone shouted.

Outside, thunder crashed violently.

Rain began pouring again.

Of course.

Kiara sighed.

“Mumbai and power cuts are in a toxic relationship.”

A few emergency candles were lit around the auditorium slowly.

Warm golden light filled the darkness softly.

And suddenly—

Everything felt different.

Quieter.

More intimate.

The shadows danced across Aarav’s face while rain echoed against the rooftop.

Kiara’s heartbeat became suspiciously loud.

Aarav looked at her for a long moment.

“You look nervous.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re playing with your rings.”

Kiara instantly stopped moving her fingers.

“How do you even notice these things?”

“I notice everything about you.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

The sentence hit her harder than expected.

Aarav looked calm after saying it.

As if he didn’t realize the effect his words had.

Meanwhile Kiara’s brain had officially stopped functioning.

Thunder echoed outside again.

The candlelight flickered softly between them.

And suddenly, the distance felt too small.

Too dangerous.

Kiara looked away first.

“You flirt like a criminal.”

Aarav leaned back slightly.

“And you blush too easily.”

“I do NOT blush.”

“You literally are right now.”

“That’s because you’re annoying.”

“That’s not the reason.”

Kiara opened her mouth to argue—

But stopped.

Because Aarav had moved closer.

Not dramatically.

Not suddenly.

Just enough for her breathing to change.

The entire auditorium blurred into the background.

All she could hear was rain.

All she could see was him.

His eyes looked softer tonight.

Less guarded.

Like he was trying not to cross a line he’d already stepped over mentally.

Kiara’s pulse raced wildly.

“Aarav…”

“Hm?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

His voice became quieter.

“Because you look beautiful.”

Her breath caught instantly.

No teasing.

No sarcasm.

Just honesty.

And somehow that made it worse.

The tension between them snapped tighter.

Aarav slowly lifted his hand toward her face.

Every nerve inside Kiara’s body woke up.

His fingers brushed a small streak of blue paint near her cheek gently.

The touch lasted barely two seconds.

But it felt intimate enough to ruin her sleep for the next five business days.

Neither moved afterward.

Neither breathed properly.

Kiara stared at him silently while thunder shook the building outside.

Aarav’s eyes dropped briefly toward her lips.

And suddenly—

Everything changed.

The air.

The silence.

The space between them.

Kiara realized with terrifying clarity that he was about to kiss her.

And the worst part?

She wanted him to.

Desperately.

Aarav leaned closer slowly.

Her heart pounded so hard it almost hurt.

The candlelight flickered again.

Rain crashed violently outside.

Kiara’s fingers tightened against the edge of the stage.

Their faces were inches apart now.

Close enough to feel each other breathing.

Close enough to destroy everything.

“AARAV!”

Both pulled apart instantly.

A guy from the tech team ran toward the stage.

“The backup generator is working now.”

The lights suddenly came back on.

Reality returned too quickly.

Students re-entered the auditorium noisily.

The moment shattered completely.

Kiara looked down immediately, trying to breathe normally.

Meanwhile Aarav looked genuinely irritated for the first time that evening.

The tech guy blinked nervously.

“…Did I interrupt something?”

“Yes,” Aarav answered immediately.

Kiara almost died.

The poor guy looked terrified.

“I— uh— sorry?”

He disappeared instantly.

Kiara covered her face with both hands.

“Oh my God.”

Aarav looked dangerously amused now.

“You’re cute when embarrassed.”

“I’m going home.”

“You said that twenty minutes ago.”

“And now I mean it emotionally.”

Aarav laughed softly again.

That rare laugh.

The one she was beginning to love far too much.

Kiara stood up quickly before her heart completely betrayed her.

She grabbed her bag dramatically.

“This conversation never happened.”

“So you’re pretending you weren’t about to kiss me?”

Kiara froze.

Heat rushed to her face immediately.

“You’re insane.”

“That’s not a denial.”

She pointed at him warningly.

“Goodnight, Aarav.”

He looked up at her calmly from the stage.

“Goodnight, Kiara.”

The way he said her name felt unfairly soft.

And long after she walked away…

She could still feel his fingers against her skin.

—

Later that night, Kiara stood near her hostel window unable to sleep.

Rain continued falling across Mumbai quietly.

Her phone buzzed suddenly.

A message from Aarav.

Aarav:

You ran away.

Kiara stared at the screen for ten full seconds before replying.

Kiara:

Self-respect is important.

Typing…

Aarav:

Coward.

Her heart betrayed her again.

Stupid boy.

Stupid smile.

Stupid feelings.

Kiara looked up at the moon shining faintly behind rain clouds.

And deep inside…

She knew she was already falling too hard. 🌙